Malaysia Airlines to order 25 widebodies

Malaysia Airlines say it will make an order for 25 new widebodies by the end of the year, with plans for deliveries to start in 2018.

In an email response to FlightGlobal, the carrier says that 15 of these aircraft are for replacement of the same number of Airbus A330-300s coming off lease, and the remaining 10 targeted at growth.

The carrier would only say it is still "assessing all models", and that the jets will have a two-class configuration. Chief executive Peter Bellew had however previously said that the airline is eyeing the A330neo.

The new widebodies will be operated "predominantly on new routes and also to replace narrowbodies on some of the existing routes", says the airline.

It adds that the aim is to maintain a fleet of around 80 aircraft. This will include its six new A350-900s on order from Air Lease Corporation, two of which are expected to be delivered at the end of the year.

Flight Fleets Analzyer shows that 21 of its aircraft are widebodies, comprising 15 A330-300s and six A380-800s. The rest are Boeing 737-800s.